A walk down lower D hall- way usually involves a stroll by a brightly decorated door guarding a room full of preschoolers singing the cleanup songs we used to be so fond of back in the first grade. But have you ever wondered what really lies beyond the colorful entrance?

Inside that room is the Child Development course that Paint Branch, along with several other high schools in Montgomery County, has been offering ever since it was built. Students who take Child Development 1, 2, or 3 are interested in the development of younger kids and/or in pursuing careers dealing with children after becoming certified as eligible to teach preschool-aged children. They spend time making lesson plans, researching the social, emotional, and physical development of children, making profile portfolios, and teaching preschoolers who come to PB for two and a half hours a day for four days a week.

Junior Molly Hubscher, a Child Development 3 Student and the Vice President of the Future Educators of America Club, says that the class is “A lot of work because we have only three days for planning…but it’s worth it because I want to become a Kindergarten teacher when I graduate college and this class is teaching me a lot.” Students also receive SSL hours for the year and a ninety hour certificate that gives them an opportunity to go into a day care and teach if they are interested in the education field.

Mrs. Eckrich who is the teacher in charge of placing interns in preschools or elementary schools, says that students “Work with a sponsoring teacher of kids that can be from kindergarten to the third grade. The high schoolers assist with the planning and teaching of lessons.” These internships are available to students who have completed a minimum of two years of Child Development and are a senior.

The children that come to Child Development classes are preschoolers from the local community. Mrs. Cooke, the Department Chair for Child Development, says that this year is one of her favorite years because, “We have a really good mix [of daycare children] this year, with many kids who don’t even speak English. It’s the largest second level class I have had and the high school students are really into it.” Mrs. Cooke is one of the teachers of the course and she gives Paint Branch something special that a lot of other schools don’t have. “Most of the schools in Montgomery County have teachers with a Family And Consumer Sciences background teaching the course, but I am actually also certified as a director of a preschool.” The curriculum for the preschoolers is the same one that Montgomery County provides to all of the other preschools. The high schoolers focus on teaching the students literacy, math, science, and even self-help skills through fun activities such as singing songs and making shapes out of Play-do. One other thing they do is increase the kids’ confidence with reward stickers and words of encouragement.

When asked what her favorite thing about Child Development is, junior Alexia Xenohristous claims that, “Teaching kids new things makes me feel really good about myself. I love it when we help them work on their ABC’s and have them learn their letter of the day.” Hubscher states, “Coming in to the classroom and hanging out with the kids make my bad days a lot better.” Mrs. Cooke on the other hand feels that the preschoolers teach the high schoolers just as much as the high schoolers teach them. “It’s fun to watch the preschoolers remind their teachers to calm down when they become too overbearing or stressed about their other classes and to enjoy themselves.”

If you are still wondering what is so special about the Child Development Program, those involved with it can provide a long list including: being certified as a teacher in your freshmen year of high school, the fact that there is an actual preschool inside of a high school, and getting to play with kids while being in school and getting credit for it. Mrs. Ekrich believes that the Child Development Program is Paint Branch’s “best kept secret” and definitely a great opportunity for anyone who is interested.